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With this admission cycle, the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for the first time began allowing recommenders to submit their letters electronically. When you (the applicant) enter your recommenders’ information in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), you can either generate an email to the recommender with a link for uploading the letter, or print a hard copy form to provide to your letter-writer, who will then submit it with his/her letter.

So, which one should you do? Electronic or hard copy?

The answer is simple: ask your recommender which s/he prefers. The law school admission committees don’t care—they’ll get it electronically from LSAC regardless. So it’s really about your letter-writer’s convenience. Some will prefer the ease of modern technology, while others will feel more comfortable with the (semi)-reliable old school methods. Follow his/her lead. The only situation in which you might want to be a bit directive is if your recommender is overseas—electronic submission will be so much faster and more reliable, it makes no sense at all to use snail mail.

As for that other electronic tool, evaluations? Only if the school prefers or requires it. Otherwise, go with the traditional letter of recommendation.